EXAM QS 1 Flashcards
1) The prevalence of obesity has doubled over the last 20 years in the USA. A recent survey of the Scottish population estimated that the prevalence of obesity in males was 22%.
define prevalence and incidence
● prevalence = the number of people in population with a specific disease at a single point in time or in a defined period of time
●incidence = the number of new cases of disease in a population in a specified period of time
2) List 5 actions the government could take to stem the rise in obesity:
● health education (diet / exercise) ● tax (on unhealthy foodstuffs) ● legislation (ingredients on cans / labelling) ● enforcement of the above legislation ● ban on advertising unhealthy food ● improve exercise / sport facilities ● subsidise / fund healthy food ● transport policy ● funding of NHS treatment
3) List 4 examples of what the GP could do to help individual patients:
● role model
● prescribing
● tailored advice (diet / exercise)
● referral (dietician etc)
● treat diseases that contribute to obesity
● arrange to see regularly
● education about risks associated with obesity
● tackle underlying causes (depression / low self-esteem)
4) List 5 other health professionals who could also be involved in obesity management or prevention:
● community dietician ● psychologist ● pharmacist ● bariatric surgeon (2ndary care) ● practise nurse ● school nurse ● health visitor ● midwife
6) Explain the difference between statistical and cultural definitions of normality:
● statistical normality = based on the normal distribution curve / standard deviation
● cultural normality = based on norms and values within a certain group (community)
7) How might changes in cultural perceptions of normality have led to the observed statistical differences illustrated earlier (in part 5):
● the fact that people see more obese people shifts their notion of what is normal; it becomes accepted, and normal, to eat eat more junk food, take less exercise etc
● thus being obese becomes normal; obesity may be perceived to be related to affluence or attractiveness or health
8) How might obesity affect an individual’s health at each of the 3 levels listed below:
● psychological = reduced self-esteem
● physical = difficult to move or keep fit
● social = ostracization by peers
9) Health care systems differ between different countries; the UK has a very strong primary care organisation compared to the USA; the GP is often described as a gatekeeper to secondary care:
● what do we mean by the term gatekeeper in this context
○ a person who controls patients’ access (via referral) to specialist / secondary care
● list 2 advantages of GPs as gatekeepers
○ keep people out of expensive secondary care
○ continuity of the doctor-patient relationship
○ personal advocacy
○ patient does not know where to go / appropriate referral / use of resources
● list 2 disadvantages of GPs as gatekeepers
○ patients have less choice in secondary care
○ puts stress on GP to know everything about every disease / symptom
○ dependent on individual GP knowledge, attitudes, skill, practice organisation
○ puts stress on a good doctor-patient relationship
○ seeing a GP might increase the time it takes to receive the needed treatment
